Weekly Screenshot – Wamasu Madness

It’s time for entry #4 in our weekly screenshot dissection series. Every week I delve through the depths of available ESO video footage to pick the most interesting single screen capture I can find, breaking it down to provoke community discussion! This week features some images of the rare and deadly Wamasu, a giant reptilian swamp dweller from the far reaches of Blackmarsh.

It looks like this giant beast has made it’s lair in a watery cave beneath the falls, it emerges to assault a party of three adventurers who have intruded upon it’s home. The Wamasu, in addition to being a formidable physical specimen, has the ability to store a massive electrical charge which it can unleash to electrocute it’s prey. Needless to say, this electrical discharge is likely an even more deadly weapon within the watery environment of Blackmarsh. The first screenshot clearly depicts two of the three heroes; one a heavy armor wielding warrior with a two handed falchion, the other is a lightly armored mage wielding a fire-based destruction staff. The third member of the party has gotten close to the beast and is in the middle of attacking it’s exposed flank.

I think one of the most interesting points about this first screenshot is how the Wamasu kicks up a spray of watery particle effects as it charges through the pool. In a screenshot, it looks pretty good, but in real-time video, it looks amazing! I got caught up in work yesterday, so this weeks screenshot didn’t arrive yesterday as scheduled. To make it up for you guys, here’s another shot of the Wamasu free of charge (hehe, get it?).

This screenshot gives us a much clearer picture of the beast itself. Covered in purplish scales, the Wamasu resembles a huge spinded komodo dragon. I would expect such a beast to be formidable for heroes that have not acquired a substantial degree of experience and skills. Given what we typically expect from MMO zone progression, I would forecast that many areas of Blackmarsh will be reserved for the higher level (35+) progression in the Ebonheart Pact storyline.

An interesting feature of the second screenshot is the player on the left is in the middle of casting a spell. There have been many fans and community members who express confusion over spellcasting and weapon usage. Spells in ESO do not require a “free hand” to use, rather they are cast in lieu of a normal weapon attack. Notice how the Dragonknight on the left is hurling a magical projectile at the Wamasu with his left hand, while still using his axe. The system plays in an intuitive way, casting spells off the six slot hotbar, while controlling weapon attacks and manual defenses with the mouse buttons. As a final point for this week, it’s really worth noticing how incredible the fire particle effects look in ESO. Take a close look at the little embers that are flying outwards following the mage’s fireball attack. The coloration and texturing of these fiery particles looks phenomenal!

To take a closer look at the Wamasu, here are the full screenshots in their 1920×1080 glory: screenshot one and screenshot two. I’d like to hear what you think about this fearsome creature, and how you would approach this battle if you had to face it with a small group of friends? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

From what I’ve heard the order of the factions we go to after we finish our own faction’s quests goes in a counter clockwise rotation on the map – so if you start out in Daggerfall you then go to Aldmeri then to ebonheart. Start in Aldmeri then go to ebonheart then to daggerfall. Start in ebonheart then go to daggerfall then to aldmeri. So if you’re an orc player roaming black marsh in game then you are likely 50++ and the wamasu should be pretty powerful scaled up to your level.

@Atropos From the first picture to the second we see a movement of the group from the water to dry land. Do you think this has something to do with your previous statement about environmental effects changing the dynamics of a fight with a lightning based monster.

Also the splash which you mentioned for being really good looking, do you think this could be an ability which it uses to soak a whole group of people to the chain lightning between them when they are on dry land.

Really good pictures this week, quite interesting to read into. Keep it coming.

Regardless of Race. Regardless of Religion. Regardless of Politics.

I will fight for the right to live, for gold in my hand and the good of the world.

Tantum religio putuit suadere.

Such are the heights of wickedness to which men are driven by superstition.

From the first picture to the second we see a movement of the group from the water to dry land. Do you think this has something to do with your previous statement about environmental effects changing the dynamics of a fight with a lightning based monster.

Also the splash which you mentioned for being really good looking, do you think this could be an ability which it uses to soak a whole group of people to the chain lightning between them when they are on dry land.

Interesting thoughts, I’m not sure… Probably that’s reading too much into it, my guess is they just moved the fight a bit over the course of the action, but who knows? Maybe it’s an intentional mechanic/strategy to get the Wamasu out of the water.

Great post! Yes imidiately looked at the armors and thought to myself that that does look alot like orcish. But then i remembered that when you reach level 50 you’ll be able to go to another location and if I’m not wrong at PAX you could only make a DC character (wasn’t there myself) and most footage is from the DC regions?

It looks epic i can’t wait to kill it, it will be a fight i cannot wait for killing this thing. but it is never good to doubt your opponent it is always better to be strategic rather then cave man and try to kill the thing right away. anyway great picture i really enjoy seeing new images on this site so great job

Well, figure on the game being released November/December, so you’ve got about 5-6 months to save up and get a new system or just upgrade a few things. You could get a decent system for $700-$800, based on what I’ve been looking at doing my own research for myself for my new system.

Well, figure on the game being released November/December, so you’ve got about 5-6 months to save up and get a new system or just upgrade a few things. You could get a decent system for $700-$800, based on what I’ve been looking at doing my own research for myself for my new system.

^This. @Caracala and @dnoisette, you have at least ’til November to upgrade your system a bit. For me, I’m saving for a HD 6670 so I can at least play it on medium or high.

”I wonder what it’s like for those Thalmor, now that they’ve been taken down a notch…”

”I heard you’re the one who gave the Thalmor a black eye. You sure know how to pick your enemies.”